The AVB Network Connection

The AVB Network Connection

SW5E

SW5E

The SW5E connection.

PreSonus’ SW5E AVB switch supplies five AVB ports with secure. locking XLR Ethernet jacks. This, along with its robust construction, makes the SW5E an especially good choice for live sound systems. Network Link/Activity indicators help you ensure that network data is flowing properly.

What is an AVB network?

Audio networking is much more than just a way to connect a digital snake. With an AVB network, you can connect digital audio devices over long distances using CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cable and route your audio anywhere on the network with extremely low latency. AVB offers several unique benefits that make it a better choice for audio than other networking protocols. For example, AVB provides a high-precision clock that significantly reduces harmonic distortion and phasing, ensuring your audio stays clear and clean. AVB ensures you always have enough bandwidth to carry your low latency audio—even when your intern starts streaming a movie. These important benefits are an inherent part of AVB; you don’t need to do anything special to your devices or AVB switch. And you can only get them with AVB.

AVB (Audio Video Bridging, also known as Time Sensitive Networking, or TSN) is a collection of IEEE 802.1 networking standards that define a single digital network for transmitting audio, video, and other forms of data via “smart” switches that can process AVB traffic without compromising network integrity.

AVB networks employ an AVB switch (such as the PreSonus SW5E) that is an active part of the network, throttling non-AVB traffic to ensure you always have enough bandwidth to carry your audio with extremely low latency. This means you get guaranteed low-latency audio performance regardless of other network traffic.

PoE: Remote power for networked devices.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that enables network cables to carry electrical power to compatible devices. With PoE, a single cable delivers both network data, such as digital audio, and electrical power. You can locate a PoE-enabled device anywhere you can run an Ethernet cable because you don’t need a local power source. Four of the SW5E’s five ports can provide PoE, a rare feature in the current generation of AVB switches. The SW5E’s fifth port is non-PoE, which is useful for linking to additional switches to create a larger network.

Tough enough for live sound.

Live sound gigs are hard on gear, and if your network fails, the show could be over. That’s why the SW5E is built to stand up to the rigors of live sound and perform reliably every time. In addition to using rugged, locking XLR Ethernet connectors, the SW5E is housed in a heavy-duty, all-metal chassis and can be rack mounted using a rack tray (not included). The unit also employs an internal power supply with standard IEC connector—not a clumsy “wall wart” supply that could easily get bumped loose.

A great networking solution for StudioLive digital mixers.

When used with StudioLive digital mixers, an SW5E AVB switch makes many wonderful things possible. Use an SW5E to network StudioLive Series III consoles or to connect a StudioLive AI-series console and StudioLive RML-series rack mixer (as a stage box). Put an SW5E at the center of your network to connect a StudioLive RML-series rack mixer with a StudioLive CS18AI control surface. You can even cascade two StudioLive RML-series mixers to create a larger system by AVB networking them with an SW5E.

You also can use the SW5E to connect non-PreSonus AVB-enabled equipment. As long as the product is compatible with the AVB specification, it is compatible with the SW5E.